Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1887-06-02
POwDERLy TO THE KNIGHTS.
Patriotic and Timely Advice In Re-
gard to Celebrating Inde-
pendencc Day.

To the Order wherover found, Greeting:
For several years tho practice OF holding
domonstrat ons and celebrations on the Fourth
Of July has been dying out. The old and the
middle-agod are forgetting that on the fourth
day OF July 177G, nation was born and gov
ernment was inaugurated which differed from
the governments aud nations OF the earth mas
1baab bab as 9S t9 81 rs & nation sg and g9yeEpmsnt
aged and controlled by the whole people; and
the intention was that those who served the
people publc officers wore to act for the whole
people.
Even while the Declaration OF Independence
was being read. the struggle for liberty--for free
speech, for Il free people and a free country
was going on. and il continued until liberty
throughout thJ len sth and brendth Of the
United Colonies wns an established fact
For years the citizens OF the republic were
accustomed to meet OH zach succeeding Fourth
of July and celeDia ute the event which pro-
claimed nation born. For years the doing5 OF
those who erectod the proud structure ON which
our Government rests were told and retold in
song aud story.
Each Fourth OF July saw the citizens OF the
republic gathered together under one-and only
one-ha', On tho Village green or the city
square, and, amid the booming OF cannon and
boating OF drums, awakened memories OF the
days tn t ied mems SOULS"
The 81 eaker II the day told how tho power
OF king gave Wav Mt the command of the peo-
pie. or, il no speaker could be had, one OF the
celebrants read To the ass embed multitude the
Declaration Of Independence.
Old mon among us can recall such incidents
"a these, It they arc fast forgetting how it
was done or what it for. and the young
people are not taught to respect or celebrate
the day.
Such condition of affairs is wrong and un-
patriotic.
There is ono portion OF our country's popula-
tion TINT should never cease to remember that
they. above all other. should celebrate the
fourth day OF July aud keep alive the memo
rios which it recalls. Those who gain large for
tunes those who acquire lar 90 tracts OF land in
the country, and who own blocks OF buildings
in our cities, arc not the ones who celebrate, or
care to celebrate, that day which gave to tho
world nation whose strength lay in her COM
mon people. 1t belongs, therefore. TO tho ones
who have not gained the most and Jared the
bost under our Government, to the common
people; to kindle once more and keep forever
alive tho memories OF the struggle which de-
throned the king in royal robes and enthroned
the sovereign in homespun-which disc arded
and spat upon the scepter OF a monarch and
honored and exalted the hammer and plow-
handle Of tbs man OF toll.
Two classes. representing diverse feelings and
interests, would have the com mon people forget
that we have n country or flag. The monopo-
list and the anarchist care nothing for Ameri-
can liberty or institutions. The former, having
accumulated an immense fortune, would hail
with delight king and n strong government,
andl is hopeful OF a change In that direction.
The lattor has either lost hope in our institu-
tlons or else knows nothing about them or their
history, and would destroy both the good and
the bad In them TO make way for the rule Of
nobody and nothing.
Monopoly and anarchy are twin evils. The
latter by attempting to overturn all law and
order because some of our laws are not properly
administered, would give to tho former tho
pretoxt for the establishment OF strong
Government. Monarchy before anarchy would
then be the cry. The watchword Of the peo-
pie should be Neither monopoly nor anarchy
shall rule Ia this country-both must 90. Men
who labor by hald or brain make up two-thirds
of voting population. Two-thirds OF the
voters can, IL they nre honest patriotic. and
vigilant, vote good mon into office and good
men, IL properly watched and assisted by the
people, will mike and enforce good laws. It
follows that II there Is anything wrong In the
affairs OF State or nation, we the people, are to
blanc, and We have no right to grumble or
threaten to break up the Government because
OF our own neglect What, then, is our duty
What is tho duty of the knights of Labor In
particularly IL is to study the principles on
which our Government is based and teach
others what we have learned.
therefore recommend that on next Fourth
of July tho members OF the order, whore there
is an assembly In existence, hold demonstra-
tions and celebrations in honor OF the birth OF q
peoples government
II other societies intend TO celebrate, the
knights can join In II no other society will
celebrate, then the Knights should celebrate by
all means. In localities whore q puplic demon
stration would cause some liberty hating en-
pioyer to discharge his workmen, would ad-
wise that no risks bo takon. Join In with other
citizens in getting up celebrations. Secure
speak, TO deliver n short address, II no speak
or can be had, secure a good reader to read the
Declaration OF American Independence. In the
line OF march and on your stands and public
places use only one fing-the stars and stripes.
Snow to the world that no matter where the
knight OF Labor citizen was born he respects
and honors the United States flag. Show to the
world that we are determined to find out what
is wrong In our system OF government and that
we are equally as determined to right such
wrongs as may exist, by peaceful, legitimate
desire, also. that the question of-the restora-
tion OF the peoples lands TO the care OF the peo-
pie be discussed. Pass resolutions declaring
that the holding OF from fifty to sixty millions
OF acres OF the public domain by aliens is sinful
and un-American. Go further, and demand that
tho allon landlord shall let 60 his hold.
Pass resolutions declaring that every acre of
land acquired by fraud, perjury. or chicanory,
IL an acre stolen, and dema and that the thief bo
required 10 make 7, stitution TO the people.
Pass resolutions never TO take your eyes off
the land until ono good, plain, simple, honest
law shall govern the Lolding OF land, whether
the holder DO rich or poor individual COR
poratIon; Make the land for the people, under
was not for air, sunshine or water alono that
our fathers fought; il was for the land, and we
must hold this land free from the shark and
speculator, whether native or alien.
This Is no political question; it IL a national
q patriotic ques ion, and must be understood.
Do not fear the taunts or ridicul5 of amy man
or set OF mon. Let those who feel 30 disposed
call our demonstrations spread Gag gleisin" or
yankee Doodleisn, II they choose Give
thom TO understand that wo are In earnest, and
that we prefer Hprcad-eagleism TO Indifference
Let IL be understood that wo are determined
that tho wings OF the oagle shall hereafter
spread over a nation OF free men and women,
who own the land We live I'm. that the wings OF
the eaglo shall no longer spread over single
acre OF land owned or controlled by an alien
landlord or native rogue.
DO not forget 10 celebrate In n becoming, Dig
ni1ed manner tho one hundred aud eleventh
birthday OF American Independence, especially
aq this year IL the centennial anniversary OF the
formation OF tho Constitution under Which we
now live II. v. PowDERLY,
General Master Workman.